Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $237/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,282)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $23,495/yr
Odessa, TX
Pros
Households earn $23,495 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Homes cost $49k less ($193,500 vs $242,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$23,495
$71,293 vs $47,798/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
22% lower
316.3 vs 406.1 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$49k less
$193,500 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 30.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 9 and Odessa wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Athens-Clarke County to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $193,500 median home), income ($47,798 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Odessa, TX are about 1,108 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.